From Niederau Station, Germany’s oldest station (built in 1842), with connections to public transport, it is a short distance on foot to the (Water) Schloss Oberau, the starting point of stage 5 (about 1.5 km walk from the station over the railway overpass, right alongside the path parallel to the tracks, left into Mönchsallee, right into Oberauer Straße, left into Thomas-Müntzer-Ring).
From the (Water) Schloss Oberau, follow Thomas-Müntzer-Ring west past the castle pond (past the park with playground) and turn left at the park exit (by the agricultural field) into Teichstraße, continuing toward Niederau, where you pass the Schwemmteich.
You reach Gröberner Straße, walk down a short way, turn right, and continue along Kirchstraße.
Detour: From the corner of Teichstraße/Gröberner Straße, it is about 1 km on foot up the Gröberner Straße to Loose’s Besenschänke (opening hours can be requested at 03521/738054) and then another approx. 1 km on foot to the Steffen Loose Winery itself (via Gröberner Straße, Baderberg, Im Winkel) with the nearby Handarbeitshaus.
At the beginning of Kirchstraße, you see the St. Jakobus Church, whose current form dates from 1878/79 and is worth a quick visit. 200 m further, turn left over the Niederau village stream and continue according to the trail markings to the edge of town (main road, crossing Meißen Straße, Rathenaustraße), where a tower windmill (2nd half of 19th century, private property/residence) catches the eye.
You continue on Mittelweg through the Nassau, a protected landscape area with wet meadows, crossing the Fürstengraben and the railway line to Meißen, reaching Ziegelstraße/Köhlerstraße (district road K8015). Turn left and walk along the foot/cycle path next to the district road until reaching a crossing assist. Cross to the other side, turn right, and continue along Köhlerstraße and Langer Graben to Meißen-Zaschendorf. You reach Heinrich-Heine-Straße, turn right, and follow the street layout to Großhügelstraße.
Here there is the option to take a small detour to the village square of Zaschendorf with a pond, playground, and rest area (walk a short way down Straße Neuzaschendorf).
To continue, turn left into Großhügelstraße and follow the trail markings until reaching the Spaargebirge. This almost 3 km long ridge rises up to 90 m above the Elbe and has favorable climatic conditions compared to the surrounding area. Because of this, especially on the south-facing slopes, farms, knightly estates, and wineries have settled in unusual density since ancient times (documented from 1352). Only with a local guide knowledgeable in history can these traces be discovered. Without help, you can reach the vineyards and wineries offering individual or guided hikes through otherwise inaccessible vineyards.
Turn left into Gelegegasse, which leads into Boselweg, and follow Boselweg until reaching a bench and signposts where the path leads right up into the forest and to the Bosel with the Botanical Garden (founded 1930, today maintained by TU Dresden, specialties: drought-tolerant plants, opening hours: April-October every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm) and the Boselspitze viewpoint - with views over the Elbe valley, and on clear days up to Dresden and Saxon Switzerland.
From Boselspitze, continue toward Meißen. After about 200 m, you cross one of the Bronze Age earthworks, of which there are several in the Meißen area. Through a large, usually closed gate, you have a view of the winegrower’s house “Swallow’s Nest”. Shortly after, you reach the Boselspitze guesthouse with Bosel tower and beer garden, which invites to a break (open Friday-Sunday and holidays). Continue on Boselweg until turning left onto Rautenbergweg.
You can enjoy the great views of the Elbe by a detour to the “Juchhöh” viewpoint (about 10 minutes on foot).
Although the Spaargebirge is small, it offers numerous marked hiking trails with various “descents” in all directions. Follow the markings of the Saxon Wine Hiking Trail (red grape logo with a red S above) and reach Lückenhübelstraße via Rautenbergweg and reach the Ricco Hänsch Winery.
Following the markings further (Lückenhübelstraße, right into Rodelandweg), you reach Oberspaarer Straße (place to stop: “Bauernhäusl” 1639 with historic wine tavern), cross it and continue along Alte Spaargasse, which leads into Dresdner Straße.
At the corner of Alte Spaargasse/An der Spaargasse, you have the option to detour to the Mariaberg Winery.
Cross Dresdner Straße and follow it downstream toward the Elbe or toward the city before later using the Elbe cycle path and following it to Elbberg street (in summer: beach bar with drinks and food offers as well as a beach volleyball field). Ascend Elbberg on the right, crossing Dresdner Straße at the traffic light to Meißen station and bus station, which offer various ways home (S-Bahn S1 towards Coswig, Radebeul, Dresden & bus station with diverse bus connections). For overnight stays, for example, Hotel Ross opposite the station or the Dorint Parkhotel Meißen (about 1 km on foot via Großenhainer Straße, Bahnhofstraße, Zscheilaer Straße, Hafenstraße) invite, or numerous accommodations in the historic old town of Meißen (other side of the Elbe, reachable via railway bridge or old town bridge, about 10 minutes on foot).
Or – if it’s not too late yet – decide to visit the Wine Experience World of the Saxon Wine Cooperative Meißen (about 1.5 km on foot via Großenhainer Straße, left into Gartenstraße, right into Zscheilaer Straße, right into Straße Joachimstal, left into Bennoweg), the largest wine producer in Saxony. Here, among other things, guided tours through the historic cellars are offered; wines of all Saxon individual and large sites are on sale in the modern vinothek, and a broad range of events honors the name “Wine Experience World.”
